equipment manufacturer) coat-
ings. “The palette being devel-
oped for the automotive
segment continues to be influ-
enced by culture, nature, fashion, interior
design, color popularity and new pig-
ment technology.”
During this year’s annual Automotive
Color Trend Show held at PPG’s offices
in late September, the coatings company
presented its ideas for future vehicle col-
ors to leading global automobile manu-
facturers. Titled “Perspective,” the 2012
show presents PPG’s unique viewpoint
and angle on color direction, using in-
sight from all the company’s businesses
that color items such as laptop comput-
ers, homes, buildings, airplanes, ships
and heavy equipment.
“PPG’s internal network of more than
20 color experts and six color styling lab-
oratories around the world keep our
company in the vanguard with color
trends,” Harrington said. “This global
perspective on multiple end-use markets
gives PPG unique color expertise that is
unmatched in the industry. No coatings
company colors more types of surfaces
than PPG.”
PPG presented 64 new exterior shades
to automotive designers for considera-
tion in designs of the 2015-2016 model
years. These included colors such as: Al
Fresco, a silver metallic with fresh green
tint; Victoria Grey, a classic gray with an
iridescent highlight of gold metal; Opu-
lence, a refined red pearl with intense
jewel tone; Glacier, an icy graphite gray
with a slight violet blue tone; Sunshine, a
bright high-sparkle intense yellow; and
Elixir, a metallic mixture of silver and
magenta.
“Our consumer research has clearly
shown that color is critically important
to car buyers,” Harrington said.
A 2011 survey of automotive con-
sumers by PPG revealed that:
• 77% of respondents said exterior color
was a factor in their automotive pur-
chase decision.
Owners of large luxury cars, sporty
cars and large premium SUVs place the
most value on getting the color of their
choice.
• 45% of respondents said they would
prefer a wider range of color choices.
In addition to color trend forecasting,
PPG continues to develop paint technologies that offer automotive design options for enhancing appearance and
helping automobile manufacturers differentiate their brands, according to Harrington. “For example, metallic flake
effects have become increasingly popular.
A classic color such as blue can be updated with a high-sparkle glass flake or
a fine bright aluminum to create more of
a liquid or silk appearance,” she said.
Regional details regarding PPG’s
2012 automotive color popularity data
included:
• In North America, white ranks first
(21%), followed by black (19%),
silver and gray (16% each), red
(10%), blue (8%), natural (7%) and
green (3%).
• In Europe, white is also most popular (23%), followed by black (21%),
gray (17%), silver (13%), blue, natural and red (7%), other colors
(3%) and green (2%).
• In the Asia Pacific region, silver and
white tied for most popular (23%
each), followed by black (19%),
natural (10%), red (9%), gray (8%),
blue (7%) and green (1%).
AkzoNobel reveals Indigo
Night as 2013 Color of the Year
AkzoNobel unveiled its 2013 Color of
the Year, Indigo Night. The rich blue shade
was determined by the company through a
study of social and economic trends from
around the globe. Last year, AkzoNobel
selected a red Terra Cotta Rose as the
year’s signature hue, reflecting possibilities
and take-charge optimism.
The first to author a comprehensive, researched and global-based study of color
trends, AkzoNobel said Indigo Night suggests maturity and elegance. The regal,
tranquil and introspective hue also conveys a sense of trust and authority. Within
a color palette, indigo is versatile, pairing
well with bright colors of a similar saturation level, citrus colors or warmer neutrals,
as well as other blues, purples and greens.
“Indigo Night is a stunning color
that can be applied to many areas
within the home,” said Barbara Richard-
son, director of North American color
marketing for AkzoNobel, makers of
Glidden paint. “Even used in small
ways, Indigo Night makes a bold and
confident statement, whether it’s fea-
tured in an entryway, place of study, or
as a pop of color on furniture, such as
the inside of bookshelves.”
AkzoNobel’s Color of the Year is a re-
sult of ongoing color trend research and
analysis by creative experts from around
the world. Once a year, the AkzoNobel
Global Aesthetic Center, based in Ams-
terdam, invites an international group of
experts in the fields of design, architec-
ture and fashion to discuss and determine
key color trends for the coming year. In-
dustry authorities from different parts of
the world, including Asia, North Amer-
ica, South America and Europe, draw on
a variety of cultural influences such as
fine art and technology, as well as social
and economic trends.
A year-long process, themes and insights from the global conference are
translated into a color forecast and
palettes, captured in the company's cornerstone ColourFutures publication.
This color trend book is distributed to
multiple audiences including home designers, artists and architectural firms.
The comprehensive guide includes the
Color of the Year, which will span across
AkzoNobel's global markets, along with
an overarching color concept for 2013
and five trends.
Richardson said the dominant concept
of 2013 is “Connections,” the way things
interconnect to create networks, dialogue
and innovation. There are five related
trends and color palettes highlighted in
this year’s ColourFutures book:
Collective Passion
This trend revolves around the power of
social media, which has created new,
spontaneous ways to connect and share
ideas. The color palette, with attention-grabbing pastels combined with chalk
whites and warm greys, swoops from one
color cloud to the next, with distinct
groups flowing together.
